Customs Services

Customs clearance of shipments into New Zealand is our core competency, not just a “tack-on” service provided as an afterthought!

We have eight licensed Customs Brokers on our team and our collective knowledge and experience spans more than 170 years! 

One area we have worked very hard to streamline is reducing delays at the border.  As a result of the extremely high standard of work performed by our Customs Brokers, most clients enjoy “Blue Lane” status with 98% of shipments being cleared prior to arrival in New Zealand.  Regardless of what others may tell you this is quite difficult – not only to achieve, but also to maintain.  We have rarely experienced delays as a result of NZ Customs interest, and this is reflected by the continuingly decreasing transit times.

We have successfully prepared and submitted Concession Applications on behalf of our clients – in some cases, saving those clients thousands of dollars in Duty charges.

We have built an extremely comprehensive database which includes every product and item imported by our clients, each of which has been meticulously classified in the Customs Tariff, then stored for future reference.

We can seamlessly co-ordinate all aspects of the logistics chain and provide a reliable pivot point in the process through preparation of formal Customs Entry.  Regardless of supplier, forwarder, airline, shipping company or carrier, we are able to maintain an efficient flow of information and cohesion.  Our clients see us as their personal logistics department - and all we charge is what you would pay other companies for only preparing your Customs Entries.

In the event that you wanted to utilize the services of a forwarder other than ones that we recommend, we would still be able to provide this service.

There has been a temptation over the years for the major international companies to offer “all-inclusive, or door to door” rates. Although these offers may seem very attractive, the companies often have hidden costs and rates which are much higher than they need to be.

Your industry is similar to ours in that you rarely get more than you pay for.

We have based our philosophies around several key principles:

a) Skill - we start with good people and engrain into them the concepts of skill and excellence, very much along the lines of an apprentice developing skills from a craftsman (as opposed to a tradesman)

b) Thoroughness - 100% correctness. We are occasionally accused of being too thorough - our error rates are the lowest in the industry and as a consequence our clients do not get targeted unnecessarily by Customs - any client that has had a Customs or IRD audit will appreciate the benefits of having no skeletons in the cupboard.

c) Technology - we are committed to being the best in the business and to do this we develop systems, databases and procedures that benefit both the client and ourselves. We see little point in re-keying information more often than necessary.

 For more information contact: Customs@malcolm.co.nz